Reproduction apparatus, reproduction method and program

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a reproduction apparatus which includes a touch panel and vibrates the touch panel, including: a reproduction circuit configured to reproduce data in a unit of a frame in response to an operation of the touch panel by a user; and a driving circuit configured to vibrate the touch panel every time the data of each frame are reproduced.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese PatentApplication JP 2007-264006 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Oct. 10,2007, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a reproduction apparatus, a reproductionmethod and a program, and more particularly to a reproduction apparatus,a reproduction method and a program wherein reproduction of data iscontrolled in response to an operation of a touch panel by a user.

2. Description of the Related Art

When an editor edits images, it uses an editing apparatus to reproduce,for example, images of an object of editing and search for an image atan editing point while it observes images reproduced successively.

Interfaces for controlling reproduction are provided on such an editingapparatus as described above, and one of such interfaces is a search bardisplayed on a display apparatus on which a touch panel is provided asdisclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-301736. In an editingapparatus in which the search bar is provided, reproduction is carriedout at a reproduction speed and in a reproduction directioncorresponding to the position of the search bar at which the usertouches with the search bar using a finger of a hand thereof.

Meanwhile, a touch panel has been proposed which can exert acousticvibration which can be sensed as sound by the user and tactile vibrationwhich stimulates the tactile sensation of the user when the user toucheswith the touch panel using a finger of a hand thereof as disclosed, forexample, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-122501. A linear orcircular operation element is displayed on a display apparatus on whichthe touch panel is provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Incidentally, in image editing for business purpose, it is demanded toedit images in an accuracy of a unit of a frame. Accordingly, frameadjustment in the proximity of an editing point is significant. However,where images indicate a small amount of motion, even if reproducedimages are observed, changeover between frames cannot be discriminatedreadily, and it is difficult to carry out frame adjustment in theproximity of an editing point.

Further, when an editing person carries out frame adjustment in theproximity of an editing point, the editing person determines, forexample, a range of a time code for searching for the editing point andsearches for the editing point in an accuracy of a unit of a frame whileit observes images reproduced within the range. Accordingly, the usermust search for the editing point while it confirms both of thereproduced image, for example, displayed on a display apparatus and thetime code of the image. Therefore, where the display positions of thedisplayed image and the displayed time code of the image are spaced awayfrom each other, it is necessary for the user to move its line of sightinconveniently.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a reproduction apparatus, areproduction method and a program wherein, where reproduction of data iscontrolled in response to an operation of a touch panel by a user, theuser can search out desired data readily in an accuracy of a unit of aframe.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided areproduction apparatus which includes a touch panel and vibrates thetouch panel, including a reproduction circuit configured to reproducedata in a unit of a frame in response to an operation of the touch panelby a user, and a driving circuit configured to vibrate the touch panelevery time the data of each frame are reproduced.

The reproduction apparatus may be configured such that, where the speedof the reproduction by the reproduction circuit is not higher than asubstantially normal speed, the vibration circuit vibrates the touchpanel every time the data of each frame are reproduced, but where thespeed of the reproduction is higher than the substantially normal speed,the vibration circuit vibrates the touch panel at predeterminedintervals of time.

In this instance, the reproduction apparatus may further include adetermination circuit configured to determine a speed of thereproduction in response to an operation of the touch panel by the user,the reproduction circuit reproducing the data at the speed of thereproduction determined by the determination circuit.

Preferably, the reproduction apparatus further includes a displaysection configured to display an image based on the data reproduced bythe reproduction circuit.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a reproduction method for a reproduction apparatus whichincludes a touch panel and vibrates the touch panel, including the stepsof reproducing data in a unit of a frame in response to an operation ofthe touch panel by a user, and vibrating the touch panel every time thedata of each frame are reproduced.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a program for causing a computer to execute a process includingthe steps of reproducing data in a unit of a frame in response to anoperation of a touch panel by a user, and vibrating the touch panelevery time the data of each frame are reproduced.

In the reproduction apparatus, reproduction method and program, data arereproduced in a unit of a frame in response to an operation of the touchpanel by a user, and the touch panel is vibrated every time data of eachframe are reproduced.

With the reproduction apparatus, reproduction method and program,reproduction can be controlled. Further, where reproduction of data iscontrolled in response to an operation of the touch panel by a user, theuser can search out desired data readily in an accuracy of a unit of aframe.

According to a still further embodiment of the present invention, thereis provided a reproduction apparatus which includes a touch panel andvibrates the touch panel, including a reproduction circuit configured toreproduce data in a unit of a field in response to an operation of thetouch panel by a user, and a driving circuit configured to vibrate thetouch panel every time the data of each field are reproduced.

In the reproduction apparatus, data are reproduced in a unit of a fieldin response to an operation of the touch panel by a user, and the touchpanel is vibrated every time data of each field are reproduced.

With the reproduction apparatus, reproduction can be controlled.Further, where reproduction of data is controlled in response to anoperation of the touch panel by a user, the user can search out desireddata readily in an accuracy of a unit of a field.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description and theappended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich like parts or elements denoted by like reference symbols.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a configuration of anediting apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention isapplied;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an example of a screen image in anoperation element region shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of theediting apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a functionalconfiguration of the editing apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an example of a screen imagedisplayed in an image region shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a vibration process carried out by aCPU of the editing apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown an example of a configurationof an editing apparatus to which an embodiment of the present inventionis applied.

A display apparatus 22 on which a touch panel 21 is laminated isprovided at a central portion of an upper face of a housing 20 of anediting apparatus 10. An image region 31 in which an image of an objectof editing or the like is to be displayed is provided on the fartherside in FIG. 1 of the display apparatus 22. Meanwhile, an operationelement region 32 in which operation elements 41 to which functionsrelating to editing are allocated are provided (displayed) on the nearerside in FIG. 1 of the display apparatus 22.

It is to be noted that details of display contents in the image region31 and the operation element region 32 are hereinafter described withreference to FIGS. 5 and 2.

A cover panel 23 for assisting an operation of an operation element 41by a user is mounted in a region of the touch panel 21 which correspondsto the operation element region 32. Holes 42 are provided in regions ofthe cover panel 23 which correspond to the operation elements 41 suchthat the size thereof gradually increases from the bottom face whichcontacts with the touch panel 21 to the upper face of the cover panel23. Consequently, the user can recognize the position of any operationelement 41 through a feel at a finger of a hand thereof using its hole42 as a lead. As a result, the user can carry out touch-typing.

The cover panel 23 is formed from a transparent material such that theuser can visually confirm characters and so forth displayed in theoperation element region 32 through the cover panel 23 and the touchpanel 21.

The user would carry out an operation for a desired one of the operationelements 41 displayed on the display apparatus 22 by touching with thetouch panel 21 at a position corresponding to the operation element 41using a finger of a hand thereof. The user would search for an editingpoint by carrying out an operation for the operation element 41 tocause, for example, material data which become a material of editingsuch as data of an image or sound to be reproduced in a unit of a frameto search for an editing point.

At this time, the editing apparatus 10 causes the surface of the touchpanel 21 to vibrate in a pulsed manner within a reproduction time period(for example, 1/30 second) of one frame or causes the surface of thetouch panel 21 to vibrate in a pulsed manner at predetermined intervalswithin a period of the interval every time material data of each frameare reproduced in response to a reproduction speed.

As a result, the user can recognize that reproduction is proceeding bysensing the vibration of the surface of the touch panel 21 through afinger of a hand thereof.

Where the surface of the touch panel 21 vibrates in a pulsed mannerevery time material data of one frame are reproduced, even if the motionbetween images is small, the user can recognize changeover betweenframes readily and accurately by sensing the vibration of the surface ofthe touch panel 21 through a finger of a hand thereof. As a result, theuser can search out desired material data readily in an accuracy of aunit of a frame.

Since, with the editing apparatus 10, the user can sense it by means ofa finger of a hand or the like thereof that reproduction is proceedingor changeover between frames has occurred as described above, theediting apparatus 10 is suitable particularly where the user carries outtouch-typing.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a display image of the operation elementregion 32 shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, an operation element 111 is displayed as a squarehaving sides of 12 at a position in the operation element region 32which corresponds to a square hole 42 formed in the cover panel 23 at aright upper portion of the operation element region 32.

It is to be noted that characters “SRC” representing an editing source(SOURCE) are displayed in the inside of the operation element 111, andthe operation element 111 is operated in order to issue an instructionrelating to reproduction of material data of an editing source. The usercan issue various instructions relating to reproduction of material databy operating operation elements 113 to 122 hereinafter described afterit operates the operation element 111.

Meanwhile, another operation element 112 is displayed at a position ofthe operation element region 32 which corresponds to a square hole 42provided in the cover panel 23 on the right side of the operationelement 111.

It is to be noted that characters “DST” representing an editingdestination (DESTINATION) are displayed in the inside of the operationelement 112, and the operation element 112 is operated in order to issuean instruction relating to reproduction of a result of editing which isa destination of editing. The user can issue various instructionsrelating to reproduction of a result of editing by operating theoperation elements 113 to 122 hereinafter described. Further, characters“PLAYBACK CONTROL” representing an instruction for reproduction controlwhich is a function of all of the operation elements 111 to 122.

Further, the operation element 113 is displayed in the form of a circlehaving a diameter of 12 at a position of the operation element region 32which corresponds to a circular hole 42 provided in the cover panel 23on the left lower side of the operation element 111. It is to be notedthat a mark representative of rewinding (REWIND) is displayed in theinside of the operation element 113, and the operation element 113 isoperated in order to issue an instruction to carry out rewindingreproduction of material data or a result of editing.

Also the other operation elements 114 to 139 are displayed at positionscorresponding to holes 42 provided in the cover panel 23. In particular,the operation element 114 is displayed in the form of a circle, in theinside of which a mark representative of stopping (STOP) is displayed,at a position in the operation element region 32 which corresponds to acircular hole 42 provided in the cover panel 23 on the right upper sideof the operation element 113. The operation element 114 is operated inorder to issue an instruction to stop reproduction of material data or aresult of editing.

The operation element 115 is displayed in the form of a circle, in theinside of which a mark representative of reproduction (PLAY) isdisplayed, at a position in the operation element region 32 whichcorresponds to a circular hole 42 provided in the cover panel 23 on theright side of the operation element 114. The operation element 115 isoperated in order to issue an instruction to reproduce material data ora result of editing. The operation element 116 is displayed in the formof a circle, in the inside of which a mark representative of fastfeeding is displayed, at a position in the operation element region 32which corresponds to a circular hole 42 provided in the cover panel 23on the right lower side of the operation element 115. The operationelement 116 is operated in order to issue an instruction to carry outfast feeding reproduction of material data or a result of editing.

The operation element 117 is displayed in the form of a circle at aposition in the operation element region 32 which corresponds to acircular hole 42 provided in the cover panel 23 on the lower side of theoperation elements 114 and 115. The operation element 117 is slidablyoperated in a circumferential direction in order to issue an instructionto move the reproduction position of material data or a result ofediting. For example, the user can issue an instruction to move thereproduction position rearwardly by slidably operating the inside of theoperation element 117 in the clockwise direction along the circle.Further, the user can issue an instruction to move the reproductionforwardly by slidably operating the inside of the operation element 117in the counterclockwise direction along the circumference.

The operation element 118 is displayed in the form of a square, on whichcharacters “JOG/SHTL” which represent a jog mode and a shuttle mode areindicated, at a position in the operation element region 32 whichcorresponds to a square hole 42 provided in the cover panel 23 on theleft side of the operation element 117. The operation element 118 isoperated in order to issue an instruction to set the mode of theoperation element 117 to the jog mode or the shuttle mode. It is to benoted that the jog mode is a mode in which the reproduction position ismoved in response to movement of the operation position while theshuttle mode is a mode in which the reproduction speed is varied inresponse to movement of the operation position.

It is to be noted that, in the following description, the operationelement 117 is referred to as jog dial 117 and the operation element 118is referred to as mode button 118 in order to facilitate distinctionfrom the other operation elements.

The operation element 119 is displayed in the form of a square, on whichcharacters “PREV” which represent “PREVIOUS” are indicated, at aposition in the operation element region 32 which corresponds to asquare hole 42 provided in the cover panel 23 on the left side of themode button 118. The operation element 119 is operated in order to issuean instruction to move the reproduction position to a top position of animmediately preceding clip hereinafter described. It is to be noted thatthe clip represents material data obtained by one time of image pickupprocessing, that is, image pickup processing from a start of imagepickup to an end of the image pickup.

The operation element 120 is displayed in the form of a square, on whichcharacters “NEXT” which represent the next is displayed, at a positionin the operation element region 32 which corresponds to a square hole 42provided in the cover panel 23 on the right side of the operationelement 119 and on the left side of the mode button 118. The operationelement 120 is operated in order to issue an instruction to move thereproduction position to a top position of an immediately succeedingclip.

The operation element 121 is displayed in the form of a square, on which“−1” which represents an immediately preceding frame is displayed, at aposition in the operation element region 32 which corresponds to asquare hole 42 provided in the cover panel 23 on the lower side of theoperation element 119. The operation element 121 is operated in order toissue an instruction to move the reproduction position to an immediatelypreceding frame. The operation element 122 is displayed in the form of asquare, on which “+1” which represents an immediately succeeding frameis displayed, at a position in the operation element region 32 whichcorresponds to a square hole 42 provided in the cover panel 23 on thelower side of the operation element 120. The operation element 122 isoperated in order to issue an instruction to move the reproductionposition to an immediately succeeding frame.

The operation element 123 is displayed in the form of a square, on which“IN” which represents an in-point as an editing point representative ofa start position of editing is displayed, at a position in the operationelement region 32 which corresponds to a square hole 42 provided in thecover panel 23 on the upper side of the operation element 119. Theoperation element 123 is operated in order to issue an instruction todesignate the current reproduction position as an in-point of sound. Itis to be noted that characters “AUDIO” representing the audio aredisplayed on the left side of the operation element 123.

The operation element 124 is displayed in the form of a square, on which“OUT” which represents an out-point is displayed, at a position in theoperation element region 32 which corresponds to a square hole 42provided in the cover panel 23 on the right side of the operationelement 123. The operation element 124 is operated in order to issue aninstruction to designate the current reproduction position as anout-point of sound.

The operation element 125 is displayed in the form of a square, on which“IN” which represents an in-point is displayed, at a position in theoperation element region 32 which corresponds to a square hole 42provided in the cover panel 23 on the upper side of the operationelement 119 and on the lower side of the operation element 123. Theoperation element 125 is operated in order to issue an instruction todesignate the current reproduction position as an in-point of an image.It is to be noted that characters “VIDEO” representing the image aredisplayed on the left side of the operation element 125.

The operation element 126 is displayed in the form of a square, on which“OUT” which represents an out-point is displayed, at a position in theoperation element region 32 which corresponds to a square hole 42provided in the cover panel 23 on the upper side of the operationelement 120 and on the lower side of the operation element 124. Theoperation element 126 is operated in order to issue an instruction todesignate the current reproduction position as an out-point of an image.

The operation element 127 is displayed in the form of a square, on which“EDIT” which represents editing is displayed, at a position in theoperation element region 32 which corresponds to a square hole 42provided in the cover panel 23 on the right upper side of the operationelement 123 and on the left upper side of the operation element 124. Theoperation element 127 is operated in order to issue an instruction toinsert a portion of the material data from the in-point to the out-pointindicated by the operation elements 125 to 127 into the currentreproduction position of a result of the editing. It is to be noted thatcharacters “EDIT” representing an editing instruction which is afunction of all of the operation elements 123 to 128 are displayed onthe left side of the operation element 127.

The operation element 128 is displayed in the form of a square, on whichcharacters “DELETE” which represent deletion or erasure are displayed,at a position in the operation element region 32 which corresponds to asquare hole 42 provided in the cover panel 23 on the left lower side ofthe operation element 123 and on the left upper side of the operationelement 125. The operation element 128 is operated in order to issue aninstruction to erase data at an in-point and an out-point of a result ofediting indicated by the operation elements 123 to 126.

The operation element 129 is displayed in the form of a square displayedat a position in the operation element region 32 which corresponds to asquare hole 42 provided in the cover panel 23 at a left upper portion ofthe operation element region 32. The operation element 129 is operatedin order to issue an instruction to add a zoom-in effect to an image ofa result of editing displayed in the image region 31 (FIG. 1). It is tobe noted that “ZOOM IN” representative of a zoom-in effect is displayedon the lower side of the operation element 129.

The operation element 130 is displayed in the form of a square displayedat a position in the operation element region 32 which corresponds to asquare hole 42 provided in the cover panel 23 on the right side of theoperation element 129. The operation element 130 is operated in order toissue an instruction to add a zoom-out effect to an image of a result ofediting displayed in the image region 31. It is to be noted that “ZOOMOUT” representative of a zoom-out effect is displayed on the lower sideof the operation element 130. It is to be noted that characters “VIDEOEFFECT” representing a video effect adding instruction which is afunction of all of the operation elements 129 to 134 are displayed onthe upper side of the operation elements 129 and 130.

The operation element 131 is displayed in the form of a square displayedat a position in the operation element region 32 which corresponds to asquare hole 42 provided in the cover panel 23 on the lower side of theoperation element 129. The operation element 131 is operated in order toissue an instruction to add a fade-in effect to an image of a result ofediting displayed in the image region 31. It is to be noted that “FADEIN” representative of a fade-in effect is displayed on the lower side ofthe operation element 131.

The operation element 132 is displayed in the form of a square displayedat a position in the operation element region 32 which corresponds to asquare hole 42 provided in the cover panel 23 on the lower side of theoperation element 130. The operation element 132 is operated in order toissue an instruction to add a fade-out effect to an image of a result ofediting displayed in the image region 31. It is to be noted that “FADEOUT” representative of a fade-out effect is displayed on the lower sideof the operation element 132.

The operation element 133 is displayed in the form of a square displayedat a position in the operation element region 32 which corresponds to asquare hole 42 provided in the cover panel 23 on the lower side of theoperation element 131. The operation element 133 is operated in order toissue an instruction to add a dissolve effect to an image of a result ofediting displayed in the image region 31. It is to be noted that“DISSOLVE” representative of a dissolve effect is displayed on the lowerside of the operation element 133.

The operation element 134 is displayed in the form of a square displayedat a position in the operation element region 32 which corresponds to asquare hole 42 provided in the cover panel 23 on the lower side of theoperation element 132. The operation element 134 is operated in order toissue an instruction to add a wipe effect to an image of a result ofediting displayed in the image region 31. It is to be noted that “WIPE”representative of a wipe effect is displayed on the lower side of theoperation element 134.

The operation element 135 is displayed in the form of a rectangle at aposition in the operation element region 32 which corresponds to asquare hole 42 provided in the cover panel 23 on the right side of theoperation elements 130 and 132. The operation element 135 is slidablyoperated in a longitudinal direction in order to issue an instruction tochange the sound volume of sound of the channel 1. Meanwhile, theoperation element 136 is displayed in the form of a rectangle at aposition in the operation element region 32 which corresponds to asquare hole 42 provided in the cover panel 23 on the right side of theoperation element 135. The operation element 136 is slidably operated ina longitudinal direction in order to issue an instruction to change thesound volume of sound of the channel 2.

When the user wants to increase the sound volume of a desired channel,it would slidably operate the inside of the operation element 135 or 136corresponding to the channel in the upward direction by an amountcorresponding to the amount of change of the sound volume by means of afinger of a hand thereof or the like. On the other hand, when the userwants to decrease the sound volume of a desired channel, it wouldslidably operate the inside of the operation element 135 or 136corresponding to the channel in the downward direction by an amountcorresponding to the amount of change of the sound volume by means of afinger of a hand thereof or the like. It is to be noted that characters“AUDIO MIXER” representative of an instruction to adjust the soundvolume which is a function of the operation elements 135 and 136 aredisplayed on the upper side of the operation elements 135 and 136.

The operation element 137 is displayed in the form of a rectangledisplayed at a position in the operation element region 32 whichcorresponds to a rectangular hole 42 provided in the cover panel 23 onthe right side of the operation element 136. The operation element 137is slidably operated in a longitudinal direction thereof in order toissue an instruction to change the master volume. The user can operatethe operation element 137 similarly to the operation element 135 or 136.It is to be noted that characters “MASTER VOLUME” representative of aninstruction to change the master volume which is a function of theoperation element 137 are displayed on the upper side of the operationelement 137.

The operation element 138 is displayed in the form of a square, on which“CH-1” which represents the channel 1 is displayed, at a position in theinside of the operation element region 32 which corresponds to a squarehole 42 provided in the cover panel 23 on the lower side of theoperation element 135. The operation element 138 is operated in order toissue an instruction to select whether or not sound data of the channel1 should be included in a result of editing.

The operation element 139 is displayed in the form of a square, on which“CH-2” which represents the channel 2 is displayed, at a position in theinside of the operation element region 32 which corresponds to a squarehole 42 provided in the cover panel 23 on the lower side of theoperation element 136. The operation element 139 is operated in order toissue an instruction to select whether or not sound data of the channel2 should be included in a result of editing. Characters “AUDIO SELECT”representative of an instruction to select sound which is a function ofall of the operation elements 138 and 139 are displayed on the upperside of the operation elements 138 and 139.

Since the operation elements 111 to 139 shown in FIG. 2 are displayed incorresponding shapes at positions corresponding to the holes 42 of thecover panel 23 mounted on the touch panel 21 as described above, theuser can touch with a position corresponding to any of the displayedpositions of the operation elements 111 to 139 of the touch panel 21using a finger of a hand or the like to input various instructionsrelating to editing.

Further, since the cover panel 23 is formed from a transparent materialas described hereinabove, the user can visually observe, through thecover panel 23, the characters representative of the functions of theoperation elements 111 to 139 displayed at positions other than thepositions corresponding to the holes 42 in the proximity of theoperation elements 111 to 139. As a result, the user can recognize thefunctions of the operation elements 111 to 139 readily.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a configuration of the editing apparatus 10of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 151 executesvarious processes in accordance with a program stored in a ROM (ReadOnly Memory) 152 or a program recorded in a recording block 160hereinafter described. Into a RAM (Random Access Memory) 153, programsto be executed by the CPU 151, data and so forth are suitably stored.The CPU 151, ROM 152 and RAM 153 are connected to each other by a bus154. It is to be noted that the CPU 151, ROM 152 and RAM 153 mayotherwise be formed from a microcomputer.

An input/output interface 155 is connected to the CPU 151 by the bus154. To the input/output interface 155, an inputting block 156 includinga touch panel section 171 which in turn includes the touch panel 21shown in FIG. 1 and so froth, a driving block 157 for vibrating thesurface of the touch panel 21 in a pulsed manner and an outputting block158 including the display apparatus 22 and so forth are connected.

The touch panel section 171 detects a pressure applied to the touchpanel 21 by a touch therewith of a finger of a hand of the user andinputs operation position information representative of the position atwhich the pressure is detected to the CPU 151. The CPU 151 executesvarious processes, for example, in response to an input from theinputting block 156 and outputs a result of processes to the outputtingblock 158.

For example, the CPU 151 carries out an editing process of non-linearlyediting material data recorded in a unit of a frame in the recordingblock 160 in response to operation position information inputted theretofrom the touch panel section 171.

In particular, the CPU 151 controls a drive 159 in response to operationposition information inputted from the touch panel section 171 toreproduce material data in a unit of a frame recorded in the recordingblock 160 in a reproduction direction and at a reproduction speedcorresponding to an operation of the jog dial 117 (FIG. 2). Then, theCPU 151 supplies image data from within the reproduced material data tothe display apparatus 22 so that an image based on the image data isdisplayed on the display apparatus 22.

Further, the CPU 151 describes a position designated as an editing pointby an operation of the operation element 123 or 125 or the operationelement 124 or 126 in response to operation position informationinputted from the touch panel section 171 into an edit listrepresentative of information relating to a result of editing ofmaterial data. Then, the CPU 151 controls the drive 159 to record theedit list into the recording block 160.

Furthermore, the CPU 151 reproduces material data recorded in therecording block 160 in accordance with the edit list in response tooperation position information inputted thereto from the touch panelsection 171 so that an image of a result of editing is displayed on thedisplay apparatus 22 of the outputting block 158.

Further, the CPU 151 generates a frame changeover signal representativeof a changeover between frames every time the frame of material datareproduced from the recording block 160 changes over. The CPU 151supplies, during reproduction of material data at a reproduction speedsubstantially not higher than a normal speed in response to an operationof the jog dial 117, a driving signal for vibrating the surface of thetouch panel 21 in a pulsed manner within a reproduction time period ofone frame to the driving block 157. Consequently, every time materialdata of each frame are reproduced, the surface of the touch panel 21vibrates in a pulsed manner.

The drive 159 connected to the input/output interface 155 recordsmaterial data in a unit of a clip and an edit list described in eachediting process as a file into the recording block 160, which may beformed from a hard disk, under the control of the CPU 151. Further, thedrive 159 records a program to be executed by the CPU 151 and so forthinto the recording block 160. Furthermore, the drive 159 reproducesmaterial data recorded in the recording block 160 in a unit of a frameand supplies the reproduced material data to the CPU 151 under thecontrol of the CPU 151.

A communication block 161 communicates with an external apparatusthrough a network such as the Internet or a local area network. Forexample, the communication block 161 acquires material data from anexternal apparatus through the network and supplies the acquiredmaterial data to the CPU 151. The material data are recorded, forexample, into the recording block 160 under the control of the CPU 151.

A drive 162 connected to the input/output interface 155 drives, when aremovable medium 163 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, amagneto-optical disk or a semiconductor memory is loaded therein, theremovable medium 163 to acquire a program, data or the like recorded inthe removable medium 163. The acquired program or data are transferredto and recorded into the recording block 160 as occasion demands. It isto be noted that a program may otherwise be acquired through thecommunication block 161 and recorded into the recording block 160.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a functional configuration of the editingapparatus 10 of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, the touch panel section 171 is formed from thetouch panel 21 and a pressure detection portion 181. The pressuredetection portion 181 detects a pressure applied to the touch panel 21by a touch therewith of a finger of a hand of the user and inputsoperation position information to the CPU 151.

The CPU 151 includes a control signal generation portion 191, a drivecontrol portion 192, an output control portion 193 and a driving signalgeneration portion 194.

The control signal generation portion 191 carries out, based onoperation position information supplied thereto from the pressuredetection portion 181 of the touch panel section 171, a processcorresponding to an operation element 41 positioned at a positionrepresented by the operation position information.

For example, the control signal generation portion 191 sets the mode ofthe jog dial 117 to the jog mode or the shuttle mode based on theoperation position information representative of the position of themode button 118 shown in FIG. 2.

Further, the control signal generation portion 191 determines, based onthe operation position information representative of the position in thejog dial 117 and the mode of the jog dial 117, a reproduction directionand a reproduction speed corresponding to the position represented bythe operation position information. Then, the control signal generationportion 191 generates a reproduction control signal which is a controlsignal for carrying out reproduction in the reproduction direction andat the reproduction speed, and supplies the reproduction control signalto the drive control portion 192. Further, the control signal generationportion 191 generates a vibration control signal which is a controlsignal representative of a type of vibration of the touch panel 21 andsupplies the vibration control signal to the driving signal generationportion 194.

The drive control portion 192 controls the drive 159 based on areproduction control signal supplied thereto from the control signalgeneration portion 191 to reproduce material data recorded in therecording block 160 in a unit of a frame in the reproduction directionand at the reproduction speed corresponding to the reproduction controlsignal. The material data in a unit of a frame reproduced from therecording block 160 by the drive 159 are supplied to the output controlportion 193.

The output control portion 193 supplies image data from within thematerial data in a unit of a frame supplied thereto from the drive 159to the display apparatus 22 so that an image corresponding to the imagedata is displayed on the display apparatus 22. Further, the outputcontrol portion 193 generates a frame changeover signal every time theframe of material data supplied thereto from the drive 159 changes over,and supplies the frame changeover signal to the driving signalgeneration portion 194.

The driving signal generation portion 194 controls the driving block 157to vibrate the surface of the touch panel 21 in a pulsed manner based ona vibration control signal supplied thereto from the control signalgeneration portion 191 and a frame changeover signal supplied theretofrom the output control portion 193.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a screen image displayed on the image region31 shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, the image region 31 includes image display regions201 and 202, time code display regions 203 and 204, and a time linedisplay region 205.

In the image display region 201, an image corresponding to material datais displayed when a reproduction instruction of the material data isissued. In the image display region 202, an image corresponding to aresult of editing is displayed when a reproduction instruction of theresult of editing is issued.

In the time code display region 203, an FTC (File Time Code) of theimage displayed in the image display region 201 is displayed at a leftportion, and an FTC of a terminal end of a clip corresponding to theimage is disposed at a right portion. It is to be noted that the FTC isrelative position information allocated to each frame in order beginningwith a top frame of each file with the number of the top frame set to“0.”

Since an FTC of an image of material data during reproduction isdisplayed in the time code display region 203 of the editing apparatus10 in such a manner as described above, when the user carries out frameadjustment in the proximity of an editing point, it can recognize asearch range which is a range of the FTC for searching for an editingpoint.

Thus, the user would calculate the number of times of vibration in apulsed manner corresponding to the recognized search range. As a result,where the surface of the touch panel 21 vibrates in a pulsed mannerevery time one frame is reproduced, the user can sense the vibrationwith a finger of a hand thereof or the like placed on the touch panel 21to search for an editing point in the search range while observing animage displayed in the image display region 201 based on the calculatednumber of times of vibration in a pulsed manner.

For example, if the user recognizes the periods of time of 0.5 seconds(15 frames) across the FTC of an image currently displayed on the imagedisplay region 201 as a search range, the user would operate the jogdial 117 to carry out forward reproduction and backward reproduction andsearch for an editing point while the number of times of vibration in apulsed manner of the touch panel 21 is within 15 during eachreproduction while observing an image displayed in the image displayregion 201. By this, the user can search out an editing point in thesearch range readily.

In the time code display region 204, an FTC of an image displayed in theimage display region 202 when a result of editing is determined as onefile is displayed in the left portion. Meanwhile, an FTC at a terminalend when a result of editing corresponding to an image displayed in theimage display region 202 is determined as one file is displayed in theright portion of the image display region 202.

In the time line display region 205, an image line region 211 fordisplaying information of a time series of image data from among aresult of editing corresponding to an image displayed in the imagedisplay region 202, a sound line region 212 for displaying informationof a time series of sound data from within the result of editing, and apointer 213 are displayed.

In the image line region 211, characters “Video” representative of animage are displayed at a left portion, and an image line 211A isdisposed at a right portion. The image line 211A has a quadrangularshape whose axis of abscissa indicates a range from the top to the tailof FTCs where a result of editing is determined as one file, and ispartitioned at positions corresponding to FTCs at the top positions of aresult of editing in a unit of a clip.

It is to be noted that, in the quadrangles formed by partitioning theimage line 211A at positions corresponding to the top positions of aresult of editing in a unit of a clip, thumbnail images corresponding tothe image data in the result of editing in a unit of a clip may bedisplayed.

In the sound line region 212, characters “Audio” representative of soundare displayed at a left portion, and a sound line 212A is displayed at aright portion. The sound line 212A has a quadrangular shape whose axisof abscissa indicates a range from the top to the tail of FTCs where aresult of editing is determined as one file, and is divided in avertical direction into a number of portions corresponding to a numberof channels of sound data which can be outputted as a result of editing.In the example of FIG. 5, the number of channels of sound data which canbe outputted as a result of editing is two, and the sound line 212A isdivided into two portions in the vertical direction. In the twodivisional portions of the quadrangle, levels of signals of sound ofcorresponding channels are displayed.

The pointer 213 represents the position of an image displayed on theimage display region 202 in a result of editing. The pointer 213 isdisposed at a position corresponding to an FTC of an image displayed inthe image display region 202 in the image line region 211 and the soundline region 212.

Now, a vibration process by the CPU 151 of vibrating the surface of thetouch panel 21 in a pulsed manner is described with reference to FIG. 6.This vibration process is started, for example, when operation positioninformation is inputted from the pressure detection portion 181.

Referring to FIG. 6, first at step S11, the control signal generationportion 191 decides based on the operation position information suppliedthereto from the pressure detection portion 181 whether or not anoperation for the mode button 118 is carried out by the user. If it isdecided at step S11 that an operation for the mode button 118 is carriedout, then the control signal generation portion 191 changes over themode of the jog dial 117 from one to the other of the jog mode and theshuttle mode at step S12. Thereafter, the processing advances to stepS13.

On the other hand, if it is decided at step S11 that an operation forthe mode button 118 is not carried out, then the processing advances tostep S13.

At step S13, the control signal generation portion 191 decides based onthe operation position information supplied thereto from the pressuredetection portion 181 whether or not an operation for the jog dial 117is carried out by the user. If it is decided at step S13 that anoperation for the jog dial 117 is not carried out, then the processingis ended.

On the other hand, if it is decided at step S13 that an operation forthe jog dial 117 is carried out, then the control signal generationportion 191 decides a reproduction direction and a reproduction speedbased on the mode of the jog dial 117 and the operation positioninformation at step S14. Then, the control signal generation portion 191generates a reproduction control signal for carrying out reproduction inthe reproduction direction and at the reproduction speed and suppliesthe generated reproduction control signal to the drive control portion192.

At step S15, the drive control portion 192 controls the drive 159 basedon the reproduction control signal supplied thereto from the controlsignal generation portion 191 to reproduce material data recorded in therecording block 160 in a unit of a frame in the reproduction directionand at the reproduction speed corresponding to the reproduction controlsignal.

At step S16, the control signal generation portion 191 decides whetheror not the reproduction speed determined at step S14 is not higher thana substantially normal speed. If it is decided at step S16 that thereproduction speed is not higher than the substantially normal speed,then the control signal generation portion 191 supplies, at step S17, avibration control signal representative of vibration in response to aframe changeover signal as a type of vibration to the driving signalgeneration portion 194.

At step S18, the driving signal generation portion 194 controls thedriving block 157 in response to a frame changeover signal suppliedthereto from the output control portion 193 to vibrate the surface ofthe touch panel 21 in a pulsed manner, thereby ending the processing.

On the other hand, if it is not decided at step S16 that thereproduction speed is not higher than the substantially normal speed,that is, if the reproduction is higher than the substantially normalspeed, then the control signal generation portion 191 supplies, at stepS19, a vibration control signal representative of predeterminedintermittent vibration as a type of vibration to the driving signalgeneration portion 194.

At step S20, the driving signal generation portion 194 controls thedriving block 157 to vibrate the surface of the touch panel 21 in apulsed manner at generation intervals of the frame changeover signalwhen the reproduction speed is the substantially normal speed, therebyending the processing.

It is to be noted that, while, in the foregoing description, materialdata are recorded in a unit of a frame, the material data may otherwisebe recorded in a unit of a field. In this instance, the output controlportion 193 generates a field changeover signal representative ofchangeover of a field every time the field of material data reproducedfrom the recording block 160 changes over, and supplies the generatedfield changeover signal to the driving signal generation portion 194. Asa result, during reproduction at a reproduction speed not higher thanthe normal speed, every time material data of each field are reproduced,the surface of the touch panel 21 is vibrated in a pulsed manner withina reproduction time period (for example, 1/60 second) of one field.

Meanwhile, the driving block 157 may vibrate the surface of the entiretouch panel 21 or may vibrate only a region of the surface of the touchpanel 21 which corresponds to a region in which the jog dial 117 isdisplayed.

Further, the present invention can be applied not only to an editingapparatus for carrying out nonlinear editing apparatus but also otherreproduction apparatus which reproduce data in a unit of a frame or in aunit of a field.

It is to be noted that, in the present specification, the steps whichdescribe the program recorded in a program recording medium may be butneed not necessarily be processed in a time series in the order asdescribed, and include processes which are executed in parallel orindividually without being processed in a time series.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been describedusing specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposesonly, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

1. A reproduction apparatus which includes a touch panel and vibrates said touch panel, comprising: a reproduction circuit configured to reproduce data in a unit of a frame in response to an operation of said touch panel by a user; and a driving circuit configured to vibrate said touch panel every time the data of each frame are reproduced.
 2. The reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, where the speed of the reproduction by said reproduction circuit is not higher than a substantially normal speed, said vibration circuit vibrates said touch panel every time the data of each frame are reproduced, but where the speed of the reproduction is higher than the substantially normal speed, said vibration circuit vibrates said touch panel at predetermined intervals of time.
 3. The reproduction apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a determination circuit configured to determine a speed of the reproduction in response to an operation of said touch panel by the user; said reproduction circuit reproducing the data at the speed of the reproduction determined by said determination circuit.
 4. The reproduction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display section configured to display an image based on the data reproduced by said reproduction circuit.
 5. A reproduction method for a reproduction apparatus which includes a touch panel and vibrates said touch panel, comprising the steps of: reproducing data in a unit of a frame in response to an operation of the touch panel by a user; and vibrating the touch panel every time the data of each frame are reproduced.
 6. A program for causing a computer to execute a process comprising the steps of: reproducing data in a unit of a frame in response to an operation of a touch panel by a user; and vibrating the touch panel every time the data of each frame are reproduced.
 7. A reproduction apparatus which includes a touch panel and vibrates said touch panel, comprising: a reproduction circuit configured to reproduce data in a unit of a field in response to an operation of said touch panel by a user; and a driving circuit configured to vibrate said touch panel every time the data of each field are reproduced. 